Monitoring the Session

HB 1606

bill adding tree trimming info to electric bills

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Will MetcalfRHouse 16

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to notice provided to a retail electric customer of the procedure for requesting vegetation management near a transmission or distribution line.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

How to ask for brush cleared near a power line.

The bill adds one more item to the information electric companies must periodically send with customer bills: how a customer can ask for trees and brush to be cleared near a power line. It covers retail electric providers and their delivery utilities, retail electric utilities, city-owned utilities, and electric cooperatives. Starting September 1, 2025, Texas electric customers will see instructions for requesting vegetation management included with their bills alongside the existing load-shedding and critical-care notices.

Labels

Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Will Metcalf (R) in the House. Lead sponsor Judith Zaffirini (D) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 2 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB1606 · 2024-12-12

SOLD BY

ITEM

relating to notice provided to a retail electric customer of the procedure for requesting vegetation management near a transmission or distribution line.

WHAT IT DOES

How to ask for brush cleared near a power line.

The bill adds one more item to the information electric companies must periodically send with customer bills: how a customer can ask for trees and brush to be cleared near a power line. It covers retail electric providers and their delivery utilities, retail electric utilities, city-owned utilities, and electric cooperatives. Starting September 1, 2025, Texas electric customers will see instructions for requesting vegetation management included with their bills alongside the existing load-shedding and critical-care notices.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 7, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to State Affairs
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in public hearing
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  11. Committee report distributed
  12. Committee report sent to Calendars
  13. Considered in Calendars
  14. Placed on General State Calendar
  15. Read 2nd time
  16. Passed to engrossment
  17. Record vote RV#527
  18. Read 3rd time
  19. Passed
  20. Record vote RV#573
  21. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  22. Reported engrossed
  23. Received from the House
  24. Read first time
  25. Referred to Business & Commerce
  26. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  27. Considered in public hearing
  28. Left pending in committee
  29. Considered in public hearing
  30. Vote taken in committee
  31. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  32. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  33. Committee report printed and distributed
  34. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  35. Laid before the Senate
  36. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  37. Vote recorded in Journal
  38. Three day rule suspended
  39. Record vote
  40. Read 3rd time
  41. Passed
  42. Record vote
  43. Senate passage reported
  44. Reported enrolled
  45. Signed in the House
  46. Signed in the Senate
  47. Sent to the Governor
  48. Signed by the Governor
  49. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 127 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 25, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 25, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donors

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Nov 7, 2024 to Oct 19, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$149,922.40

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$149,922.40

Cash
$70,000.00
Paid by others
$79,922.40
Total
$149,922.40
advertising $37,500.00polling $27,750.00mail $14,372.40fundraiser $300.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 8, 2024 to Aug 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100982185, 100998989, 101030949, 101035543, 101059927, 101068041.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$54,402.88

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$54,402.88

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$54,402.88
Total
$54,402.88
television $52,000.00text $1,402.88digital $1,000.00

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Jan 27, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100998989, 101034987, 101035543.

Dustin Burrows Campaign$45,000.00

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$45,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$10,000.00
Total
$45,000.00
polling $10,000.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101030949, 101035543.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$149,922.40

Cash
$70,000.00
Paid by others
$79,922.40
Total
$149,922.40
advertising $37,500.00polling $27,750.00mail $14,372.40fundraiser $300.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 8, 2024 to Aug 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100982185, 100998989, 101030949, 101035543, 101059927, 101068041.

×

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$54,402.88

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$54,402.88
Total
$54,402.88
television $52,000.00text $1,402.88digital $1,000.00

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Jan 27, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100998989, 101034987, 101035543.

×

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$45,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$10,000.00
Total
$45,000.00
polling $10,000.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101030949, 101035543.

Votes5

Senate May 25, 2025

Final passage

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

HB 1606 (Zaffirini) Relating to notice provided to a retail electric customer of the procedure for requesting vegetation management near a transmission or distribution line. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 25, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

HB 1606 (Zaffirini) Relating to notice provided to a retail electric customer of the procedure for requesting vegetation management near a transmission or distribution line. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 25, 2025

Passage to third reading

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to third reading. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

HB 1606 (Zaffirini) Relating to notice provided to a retail electric customer of the procedure for requesting vegetation management near a transmission or distribution line. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 25, 2025

Yea
127
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
2
Excused
20
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 573

HB 1606 was passed by (Record 573): 127 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 127 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 20 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 24, 2025

Yea
144
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
4
Excused
1
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 527

HB 1606 was passed to engrossment by (Record 527): 144 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 144 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses19
For
18
Against
0
On
1
Names

For

  • AARP Texas2 registrations
  • City of Houston2 registrations
  • Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club1 registration
  • Self3 registrations
  • Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter1 registration
  • Steering Committee of Cities Served by Oncor2 registrations
  • Texas Association of Manufacturers2 registrations
  • Texas chapter of US Green Building Council1 registration
  • Texas Chemistry Council1 registration
  • Texas Coalition for Affordable Power2 registrations
  • Texas Consumer Association1 registration

On

  • Public Utility Commission of Texas1 registration
Sources

19 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 7, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Dec 12, 2024

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors

House committee · State Affairs · Committee vote 14 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Business & Commerce · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

City Government--Utilities

Utilities--Electric

PUBLIC NOTICE

Text

The text as introduced · 550 words

89R3038 CS-D

By: Metcalf
H.B. No. 1606

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to notice provided to a retail electric customer of the

procedure for requesting vegetation management near a transmission

or distribution line.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 17.003, Utilities Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (d-1) and adding Subsection (d-2) to read as

follows:

(d-1) An electric utility providing electric delivery

service for a retail electric provider, as defined by Section

31.002, shall provide to the retail electric provider, and the

retail electric provider shall periodically provide to the retail

electric provider's retail customers together with bills sent to

the customers, information about:

(1) the electric utility's procedures for implementing

involuntary load shedding initiated by the independent

organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power

region;

(2) the types of customers who may be considered

critical care residential customers, critical load industrial

customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted

under Section 38.076;

(3) the procedure for a customer to apply to be

considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load

industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules

adopted under Section 38.076; [ and ]

(4) reducing electricity use at times when involuntary

load shedding events may be implemented ; and

(5) the procedure for a customer to request vegetation

management near a transmission or distribution line .

(d-2) A retail electric utility shall periodically provide

with bills sent to retail customers of the utility information

about the procedure for a customer to request vegetation management

near a transmission or distribution line.

SECTION 2. Section 17.005(f), Utilities Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(f) A municipally owned utility shall periodically provide

with bills sent to retail customers of the utility information

about:

(1) the utility's procedure for implementing

involuntary load shedding;

(2) the types of customers who may be considered

critical care residential customers, critical load industrial

customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted

under Section 38.076;

(3) the procedure for a customer to apply to be

considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load

industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules

adopted under Section 38.076; [ and ]

(4) reducing electricity use at times when involuntary

load shedding events may be implemented ; and

(5) the procedure for a customer to request vegetation

management near a transmission or distribution line .

SECTION 3. Section 17.006(f), Utilities Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(f) An electric cooperative shall periodically provide with

bills sent to retail customers of the cooperative information

about:

(1) the cooperative's procedure for implementing

involuntary load shedding;

(2) the types of customers who may be considered

critical care residential customers, critical load industrial

customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted

under Section 38.076;

(3) the procedure for a customer to apply to be

considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load

industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules

adopted under Section 38.076; [ and ]

(4) reducing electricity use at times when involuntary

load shedding events may be implemented ; and

(5) the procedure for a customer to request vegetation

management near a transmission or distribution line .

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.